Aside from perplexing openers Black Crown Initiate, whom I missed, every band on this bill was both ungodly tight and steeped in lovably familiar theatricality. Inquisition and 1349 both opted for the classic Scandinavian corpsepaint-'n'-spikes look; the latter's bassist bizarrely chose to wear a robe. (Mismatched costume levels among metal band members are always funny; it's like when album personnel notes credit Nekroshaman, Maniacal, Caligula, and Steve.) Ben Falgoust of Goatwhore might be better at metal-frontman posturing than anyone I've seen -- he strikes badass pose after badass pose for the entire set every time they play, all without his powerful voice ever faltering.

This year's edition of the Metal Alliance Tour -- which features Behemoth, 1349, Goatwhore, Inquisition, & Black Crown Initiate -- hit NYC last Friday (4/19) at Irving Plaza. (The entire tour, aside from Behemoth, would go on to hit Saint Vitus the following night.) That's an excerpt of my Invisible Oranges writeup on the show above. Read the rest and check out pictures at IO. More pictures are in this post and they continue below...